Mulally on Microsoft: ‘I Love Serving Ford’

Mulally, right, shakes hands with Ballmer at the 2009 CES show in Las Vegas.

Associated Press

Ford Motor Chief Executive Alan Mulally, during a visit to China, brushed aside questions today about whether he could leave the auto maker to lead U.S. software giant Microsoft. “I love serving Ford,” he said.

The 68-year-old was asked about Microsoft by reporters on the sidelines of an auto industry conference in Wuhan. Microsoft is searching for a new CEO to replace retiring chief Steve Ballmer. People familiar with the search say Mulally, a former Boeing executive who advised Ballmer, is among those who’ve been approached about the job.

Mulally has said before that he intends to remain at Ford “at least” through the end of 2014. “The plan has not changed,” he told reporters today. “What we announced in November is that I would be serving until at least through 2014.”

Why didn’t he flatly declare he’s not interested in joining Microsoft? “We just don’t respond to rumors and the plan has not changed and I love serving Ford,” Mulally said.

He wouldn’t say whether he has been approached by Microsoft or other companies and declined to say whether he discussed the reports about Microsoft with Ford’s board. “We don’t talk about the board meetings,” he said.

Ford hasn’t formally announced a successor to Mulally, who led left Boeing in 2006 and led a dramatic turnaround at the No. 2 U.S. auto maker. However, Ford last year named Mark Fields, formerly head of operations in North and South America, as chief operating officer, and he has been gradually taking over certain key functions from Mulally.